Funded Childcare at ABC Childcare Services
What funded Childcare am I eligible for?
15 hours funded childcare
All parents of 3 and 4 year-olds are entitled to 15 hours funded childcare. If your child is 2 years old and you receive certain benefits, you have a child with Special Educational Needs (SEND), or have a child who receives Disability Living Allowance, or if a child is looked after by local authority you may be eligible for 15 hours funded childcare. From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours childcare support. In September 2024 eligible working parents of 9 month olds can access 15 hours childcare Support
30 hours funded childcare
For working parents with 3 and 4year-olds, you may be able to get 30 hours funded childcare depending on eligibility. Eligibility criteria includes work requirements, salary, age of children, and location. For more information, visit the Childcare Choices website.
Tax Free Childcare
Tax free childcare is a government scheme to help working parents with the cost of their childcare. Aimed at families with children aged 0-11 or up to 17 if their child has a disability, the scheme can save families up to £2,000 per child per year or £4,000 for a child with a disability.
A more detailed explanation:
Free early education entitlement (FEEE) for 9month olds
You have the opportunity to apply for free funding for your 9-month-old starting on the 12th of May. Eligible working parents can visit Childcare Choices to submit their application. It’s essential to note that your child should have reached 9 months by the 31st of August to receive funding for the September term. If your little one is 9 months old or will be by the end of August, this funding opportunity could be just what you need to support their early development. By applying through Childcare Choices, you can take advantage of financial assistance that can help ease the financial burden of childcare. Don’t miss out on this chance to give your child a head start on their educational journey.
Free early education entitlement (FEEE) for 2-Year-Olds
Your 2-year-old can get free early education and childcare if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit – if you and your partner have a combined income from work of £15,400 or less a year, after tax
- tax credits and you have an income of £16,190 or less a year, before tax
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:
- are looked after by a local authority
- have a statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- get Disability Living Allowance
- have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
All the information can be found on Cheshireeast.gov.uk .
Free early education entitlement (FEEE) for 3 and 4 year olds
All children are entitled to a free early education place starting the term after their third birthday.
Relevant dates for commencing:
- Children born in the period 1 January to 31 March: the start of term beginning on or following 1 April after the child’s third birthday;
- Children born in the period 1 April to 31 August: the start of term beginning on or following 1 September after the child’s third birthday;
- Children born in the period 1September to 31 December: the start of term beginning on or following 1 January after the child’s third birthday.
Conditions for free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds
The entitlement is for 15 hours of free early learning care per week over term time (38 weeks a year), a total of 570 hours over the year.
The entitlement may be stretched over the whole year with fewer hours per week for example 11 hours a week over the full year.
30 hours free childcare
All 3 and 4-year-olds in England already get 15 hours a week, or 570 hours a year of free early education. If their parents are living and working in England, 3 and 4-year-olds may be entitled to an additional 15 hours free childcare. An extra 570 hours of free childcare a year, so 1140 hours in total.
The additional 15 hours per week (30 hours in total) are available to working parents of 3 and 4 year olds that meet the following eligibility criteria:
When to apply for 30 hours free childcare
| When your child turns 3 | When you can get 30 hours from | Recommended time to apply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | 1 January | 15 October to 30 November |
| 1 January to 31 March | 1 April | 15 January to 28 February |
| 1 April to 31 August | 1 September | 15 June to 31 July |
What funded childcare will I be entitled to in 2024?
- From April 2024, all working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours funded childcare per week
- From September 2024, all working parents of children aged 9 months up to four years old can access 15 hours funded per week
- From September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months up to four years old can access 30 hours funded childcare per week.
All the above information can be found on Cheshireeast.gov.uk
Parents must complete the parental declaration form before claiming the free entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds.